Republic of Iraq

Ministry of Water Resources

Waste Water Production

Treatment and use in Iraq

Country report

By

Expert

Ahmed Mohammed Aziz

And

Dr. Ahmed Aws

2012

Title : Waste Water Production , treatment and use in Iraq

Abstract :

The use of treated waste water is important for agriculture development; farmers

in Iraq have been utilizing sewage water without treatment the most serious

problems in this area are related to pathogens, heavy metal contamination and

salinity build –up.

Studies carried out in Iraq have shown that treated sewage water can be used to

irrigate fodder crop and some vegetables.

In general, in Baghdad, treated effluent directed to the Diyala River from

treatment plants goes to Tigris River through additional natural flow purification

processes before it is abstracted for irrigation downstream.

Water Availability and Use:

The total renewable water resources available,

Surface water (50045 MCM) per capita annual share /1528CM year 2010

Groundwater (4228 MCM) per capita annual share /140CM,

Use of available water in different sectors

Agriculture 46.000 BCM

Domestic 3.78 BCM

Industrial 2.77 BMC

Electricity 0.40 BMC

Groundwater 2.58 BMC

Treated waste Water 0.58 BMC

Agricultural drainage 7.00 BMC

Waste Water Production and treatment

The use of domestic waste water for crop production has been practiced for

several centuries .There are agronomic and economic benefits of wastewater

used in agriculture. Irrigation with wastewater can increase the available water

supply. In addition to these, direct economic benefits that conserve natural

resources. The fertilizer value of many waste water effluent from domestic

sources could supply all of the nitrogen and much of the phosphors and

potassium that are normally required for the agricultural crop production , in

addition micronutrient organic matter also provide additional benefits .

The volume of waste water generated by municipal and industrial sectors in Iraq

about (580 MCM) and about (7 BCM) drainage water.

The main sources of waste water for reuse in Iraq are the following:

1- Municipal sewage

Large quantities of waste water come from urban, which have sewer networks.

The constitute of sewage depends on characteristic of the urban area. The key

pollutants that affect the selection of the treatment process are suspended solids ,

ammonia and organic nitrogen , phosphorus ,BOD5, l, in addition , domestic

sewage is infected by pathogenic organ, viruses , bacteria , protozoan and

helminthes eggs .

In Baghdad we have three big sewage treatment plants

- New Rustamiyah treatment plant

Design capacity (300,000) m3/day.

- - Old Rustamiyah (175,000) m3/day.

Karkh treatment plant (205,000) m3/day.-

We have other sewage treatment plant in some governorate as follows

Governorate Design capacity m3/day

Najaf 42,000

Kerbala 48,000

Maisan 14,000

Babylon 12,000

Theqar 17,000

Salah Al-din 20,000

Qadissiya 12,000

In Iraq we have about (580) million m3 of treated sewage waste .If we consider

water use for agriculture is (15000) m3 /ha. That means we can irrigate about

(38666) ha.

( 1 )

Table (1) pollution concentration for some treatments plant mg/l

Project

name

B.O.D5 C.O.D T.D.S S.S PO4 SO4 NH3 NO3

Karkh

sewage

15 86 2644 36 9.5 - 1.8 -

Old

rustumiyah

sewage

50 92 1766 99 3.2 - - -

new

rustumiyah

sewage

35 146 2507 20 7.9 - - -

Maisan

sewage

16 38 1252 66 1.8 340 0 20

Salah–

Alddin

sewage

5 - - 200 3.4 - 1.2 280

Najaf

sewage

48 121 2031 142 4 779 10 8

Kerbala

sewage

84 144 2424 640 5.4 860 4.65 7.9

( 2 )

2- Industrial

Most Industrial effluents are derived from industrial factories may be so loaded

with organic and inorganic substances.

The effluents and the treatment of the waste waters of some industries are of

greater concern than the domestic sewage of the same area; the industrial

effluents if possible should be kept away and treated separately from municipal

sewage treatment.

Purification of industrial wastes by natural processes in streams is not

recommended. Estimated quantities of industrial waste water in Iraq are about

200 MCM /year.

Total industrial of reclaimed waste water remains very limited because of high

cost and non- rigid environment metal laws.

3- Agriculture Drainage

A large source of water is available from drainage of irrigation activities.

Surface irrigation produce return flows as 20-25% of the original supply volume

depending on the irrigation efficiency soil type, and cropping patterns with other

factors.

Reuse of drainage water for agriculture require careful management to prevent

salts accumulation in soil.

The quantity of drainage water is about (7) BCM.

Treatment process for wastewater in Iraq-grouped into three stages

described below:

1- Primary Treatment

The principal step is plain sedimentation of settleable matter , there is (8) ponds

which will removed heavy solids present in raw sewage in this stage about 40%

of (BOD5) and 55% of suspended soil will be removed . The retention time is

usually (2-4) hours approximately 30% of some organic nitrogen, phosphorus

and heavy metal reduced.

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( 3 )

2- Secondary Treatment

There is (6) aeration ponds where the degradable organic matter is consumed as food by

bacteria in the presence of oxygen. The Bactria uses some of the organic material for

growth.

The remainder is oxidized to carbon dioxide and water. Some of the combined nitrogen

and phosphorus present in the waste water and absorbed by the Bactria at the same time.

During the primary and secondary treatment pathogenic organisms are largely removed.

Disinfection is the last process against any pathogenic organisms remaining in

wastewater .In chlorine contact until chlorine is the most generally used disinfection in

the prevention of water-borne disease.

3- Disposal of wastes sludge

In Rustamiya treatment plant (figure 1), there is digester units for sludge. The residence

time in a digester is about (45) days anaerobic Bactria are analyzer the organic matter to

methane and carbon dioxide.

Sludge which is produced as a byproduct of most treatment processes are spreading in

drying beds.

Utilization of wastewater at special irrigation system

One of the main progressive methods of natural biological treatment of wastewater is

their use in agriculture at special irrigation system (SIS).the use of wastewater for

irrigation would ensure full treatment of wastes. Where absorption of dissolved matter

makes 70 – 100% deficit of water resources in future makes the use of wastewater in

agriculture especially promising. In Iraq most of non treated wastewater used by farmer

to irrigate some food crop like (lettuce, cabbage,peppers,tomato,peans) also the raw

sewage used for nonfood crop like (Alfalfa,clover.maize,cotton,sunflower).most of

treated wastewater from Rustumiya and Karkh treatment plants discharged to Diyala

and Tigris river if the treatment not following national environmental it will increased

river pollution.

In Iraq some farmer used drainage water to irrigate wheat and Barely more than (1.5)

million hectare of reclaimed lands discharged drainage salty water to main outfall drain.

Table (2) shows average water salinity for years 1994 - 2002

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( 6 )

Policies and Institutional for Wastewater Management

Iraqi government has issued regulation No. 25 year 1967 about protection of stream and

reservoirs from pollution. This law prohibits wastewater discharge in to the water

bodies without special permit issued by the health administration.

The law regulates quality and quantity of wastewater that is allowed to be discharged

into natural waters. Table (3) quality standards for water sources according to regulation

(25) issued by Iraqi government.

In addition to regulation No.25 Baghdad sewerage board has issued the instruction

regulating proportion of different chemicals in the industrial waste water to be

discharged into municipal sewerage system.

The regulations valid in Iraq now require further improvement .The ministry of

environment did new regulation under publication.

Research on different aspects of wastewater Study (Ahmed Aziz) concerns with the effect of some heavy metals (pb.cd) .In sewage

water on plant-soil pollution and reflection of this effect on the growth and production

of lettuce in the field.

Experiment was conducted at Rustumiyah sewage treatment plant by using :

1- Dried sewage sludge treatment (A) .Table (4)

2- Non-treated sewage treatment (B). Table (5)

3- Treated sewage treatment (c). Table (6)

4- Tap water treatment (D).

The results summarized as follow:

1- There was high increase in the value of (pH) for all treatment and highly significant

decrease in the value ECe for all treatment. (C.E.C) was highly significant increased for

treatment (A.B.C).

2- The quantity of organic matter was significant increased for the treatment (A.B). As

well as total-N significantly increased for treatment (A) and (C). The results indicate

also significantly increased in available phosphors for treatment (A) and (B) same

increased shown for available potassium for treatment (c) and (B).

3- Significant increase in soil bulk density for treatment (B, C).

4- The results indicate a high significant increase in the dry weight for treatment (A, B).

5- For heavy metals the result indicates a highly significant increase in soil total lead as

well as available plant lead for treatment (A,B) while the results indicate significant

decrease in plant lead for treatment (C) . As for Cadmium results indicate a highly

significant increase in soil total, available and plant Cadmium for treatment (A, B),

while there was significant increase for plant Cadmium for treatment (C) .

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6- Results indicate microbiological pollution with chloroform group for the treatment

(A, B) more than for treatment (C).

It was concluded that under field conditions in which the experiment was done , treated

wastewater effluent can be used to irrigate agriculture crops such as fodder ,industrial

crop , trees production nuts and other similar trees, treated effluent reduce the danger of

soil and plant pollution with heavy metal and pathogens .Also it will improve the soil

physical and chemical properties .

Table (7) show phytotoxicity and threshold levels of heavy metals for crop production

The results showed that sewage sludge and untreated influent with its positive value as a

crop nutrient source and improving soil properties it will cause a potential hazard

pollution to the soil and plant from microbiological and heavy metals accumulation .

( 8 )

Constituents Units Con. Level

1. Colour - Normal

2. Temperature - -

3. Suspended solid - -

4. PH - 6.5 – 6.8

5. Dissolved Oxygen Mg/L More than 5

6. B.O.D.5 " Less than 3

7. C.O.D. (Cr207method) " -

8. Cyanide CN-

" 0.02

9. Fluoride F-

" 0.02 or more as naturally present

10. Free chlorine " Trace

11. Chloride " 200 or more as naturally present

12. Phenol " 0.005

13. Sulfate " 200 or more as naturally present

14. Nitrate (No3) " 15

15. Phosphate (Po4) " 0.4

16. Ammonium (NH4) " 1.0

17. DDT " N.L.

18. Lead (pb) " 0.05

19. Arsenic AS " 0.05

20. Copper Cu " 0.05

21. Nickel Ni " 0.1

22. Selenium Se " 0.01

23. Mercury Hg " 0.001

24. Cadmium Cd " 0.005

25. Zine Zn Mg/L 0.5

26. Chromium Cr " 0.05

( 9 )

Constituents Units Con. Level

27. Aluminum AL " 0.1

28. Barium Ba " 1.0

29. Boron B " 1.0

30. Cobalt Co " 0.05

31 Iron Fe " 0.3

32 Manganese Mn " 0.1

33 Silver Ag " 0.01

34 Total hydrocarbons and their compounds For detail refer to

regulation No.25 -

35 Sulfide S - -

36. Ammonia N as NH3 - -

37. Ammonia gas (N as free NH3) - -

38. Sulfur dioxide (So2) - -

39. Petroleum Alcohol - -

40. Calcium Carbide (CaC) - -

41. Organic Solvents - -

42. Benzene - -

43.. Chlorobenzene - -

44. TNT - -

45. Bromine - -

Table ( 3 )

Quality standard for water sources according to regulations

issued by Iraqi government

( Regulation 25 )

( 10 )

3.14

7.25

(ds/m at 25o)

EC

PH

57.0 Ni2+

Total concentration

for trace elements

mg kg-1

3.20 Cd2+

318.0 Pb2+

378.0 Zn2+

126.0 Cu2+

355.0 Mn2+

2525.0 Fe3+

14.0 Total

12.5 gm kg-1

N

7.5 PO4

350.0

K

Organic matter

120.0 NH2-N Mic/g

116.0 NH3-N Mic/g

42.0 SO42-

Ions concentration

Meg L-1

4.01 HCO3-

- CO32-

16.20 CL-

0.97 K+

17.30 Na+

18.2 Mg2+

22.15 Ca2+

Table (4)

Some Chemical properties for dry sludge

( 11 )

3.20

7.52

(ds/m at 25o)

EC

PH

0.08 Cr2+

Total concentration

for trace elements

mg kg-1

0.098 Cd2+

.093 Zn2+

0.284 pb2+

0.051 Mn2+

3.80 Fe3+

1.60 Cu2+

0.48 B+

0.19 CN-

2.85 P3+

Mg l-1

22.2 NH2 - N

0.00 NH3 - N

6.11 HCO3-

Cations and an ions

Mg l-1

0.16 CO32-

12.86 SO42-

11.5 CL-

0.322 K+

13.21 NA+

8.22 Mg2+

7.91 Ca2+

Table (5)

Some Chemical properties for None treated waste water

( 12 )

2.71

7.63

(ds/m at 25o)

EC

PH

0.03 Cr2+

Total concentration

for trace elements

mg kg-1

0.006 Cd2+

0.005 Zu2+

0.048 pb2+

0.051 Mn2+

0.670 Fe3+

nill Cu2+

0.23 B+

0.003 CN-

1.89 P3+

Mg l-1

0.25 NH2 - N

33.3 NH3 - N

5.14 HCO32-

Cations and an ions

Mg l-1

0.16 CO32-

10.57 SO42-

9.70 CL-

0.408 K+

12.52 Na+

8.14 Mg2+

6.55 Ca2+

Table (6)

Some Chemical properties for treated waste water

( 13 )

Conclusions and recommendations

1- Lack of knowledge of the long term effects of use treated wastewater for

agriculture and also the availability of other sources of water in Iraq have prevented

large scale application.

2- A policy for wastewater reuse must be clearly established prior to any

development activity in this field.

3- Training is recommended at different levels research work on wastewater reuse

should be directed towards finding ways to reduce hazards on human health.

4- Use of treated wastewater for portable and domestic purposes is not

recommended unless it should be treated close to the standards required for drinking

water.

5- Use of treated wastewater recommended for the following purposes:

A- Municipal uses for street cleaning, gardens, watering of road sides

B- Agricultural uses for irrigation of forests, fodder crops.

C- Industrial uses for cooling pipes of boiler

6- Capacity building to increased knowledge for users of wastewater regarding to

health risk.

( 14 )

References

1- ESCWA water development united nations New York 2007.

2- Effect of some heavy metals in dry sludge and wastewater on lettuce growth and

soil pollution (Msc thesis by Aziz Ahmed) Baghdad – Iraq.

3- General scheme of water resources and land development in Iraq 1990 (Baghdad

– Iraq).

4- Impact of sewage wastewater on the Environment in Sulaimaniya governorate

Kurdistan region - Iraq by nature Iraq Sulaimaniya – Iraq.

5- Treatment and use of sewage effluent for irrigation edited by M.B pescod UK

and A.Arar FAO Rome – Italy 1985.

6- Water pollution control

Edited by Richard Helmer and I vanido

Hespanhol WHO / UNDP 1997.

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Figure (2)

Shown none treated water used to irrigate vegetable in sulaimani government

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